GIG REVIEW: Busted at the O2 Apollo

Busted are the faux pop-punk band that took the UK by storm back in 2002. Despite breaking up in early 2005 they achieved eight singles in the UK’s Official Chart’s Top 10 (half of those reaching the coveted number one spot), won two Brit Awards and sold out fifty UK arenas (including eleven times at Wembley). They really were the top of the pops for a couple of years but the departure of Charlie Simpson to focus on his post-hardcore sideband, Fightstar, left millions of fans in a constant state of mourning. Given that he went so far as far to say that being in Busted was “like torture” a future reunion of the band seemed bleak.

Despite not being a fan of Fightstar I always admired Charlie Simpson for sticking to his guns and vowing never to return to Busted because Fightstar was where his heart lay. Years of Charlie saying the same rigmarole became gospel and so I, for one, was shocked and even amazed when the news broke that he would be re-joining James Bourne and Matt Willis. They then announced UK tours and a new album called Night Driver.

Citing that their new album was a co-creation between the three of them I have to admit that I assumed it would be some hardcore-punk album; an album that stuck to their roots but also showed how much they had matured musically. But no, Night Driver is very much the opposite. A mix between Daft Punk and 80’s retro synth it lulls you into a relaxed ambience.

Moving on to the night in question I started out ready to slate them; having heard their latest album when it was released I honestly thought it was awful. On a second listening I’m willing to backtrack slightly. Sure, it’s not the Busted we all wanted and were expecting but it’s not a badly constructed album. So anyway, despite looking at their set list and seeing a majority of the show being their new stuff I tried to go into the gig with an open mind.

Image Source: Metro

Initially, Busted did actually surprise me. I was expecting to spend the first three songs (from the Night Driver album) stood there as stiff as a board but the songs sounded so much livelier being played live. By the start of “Air Hostess” I was excited and raring to go. Hearing one of their old songs was everything I wanted it to be!

However after more of their latest songs I was honestly losing momentum, thinking to myself “Haven’t they already played this song?” Their power ballad, the air waving anthem “3am” almost brought out some emotion in me but scouring the room there was a certain lack of energy. Not that the crowd were still but it was missing something. Immediately I thought of seeing Black Stone Cherry performing “Peace Is Free.” Where, no matter how many times they play it, there’s so much feeling and raw energy coming from the crowd. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the calibre of acts that I have seen before but I just didn’t feel the spirit that I’m used to.

Moving on, again, to yet more of their newer stuff and classics such as “Crashed the Wedding” and “What I Go to School For,” I’d already made my mind up. Usually in gigs I plan to review I make quick bullet point notes and write down the set list as an aide. Here, I wrote it while they were playing the new stuff.

It’s not that Busted were bad, very much the opposite. They sounded good, looked good, spoke to the audience and had an attractive lightshow. The whole thing just felt underwhelming. I know I’ll still listen to Busted’s first two albums and throw myself on the dance floor when a song of theirs comes on in a club, but would I see them live again? There are bands I wouldn’t listen to on record but would seek to see live because they put on an all-round good show, Busted, are perhaps not one of those.

Busted try to bring out the fun by playing a selection of classics but be warned, if you want to see them live be prepared to accept the new mellow, synth-pop Busted.

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